England’s journey continues, stuttering into the Women’s European Championship semi-finals after coming from behind for the first time this tournament to beat Spain at Brighton’s Amex yesterday evening.
It wasn’t the typical swashbuckling Lionesses performance that we’ve come to expect and adore this summer, with extra-time required to overcome an awkward and resilient Spain side who made Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses suffocate and sweat until substitute Ella Toone relieved the tension with her equaliser four minutes from time. Georgia Stanway then took it upon herself to write the headlines and ensure her side’s place in the last four with a thunderous, sweetly struck effort from 25 yards.
However, it was Wiegman’s response in the nail-biting moments of adversity that caught the eye, with a direct tactical decision, a far cry from the usual free flowing football she has become synonymous with, influential in the turnaround.
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Since assuming the role of England women’s manager last September, Wiegman has won over supporters across the country with her expansive and attractive brand of football. This has continued into this summer’s Women’s Euros with her side undefeated in the opening three group-stage games, all whilst scoring a staggering 14 goals, an 8-0 win over a strong Norway side the stand-out result.
However, in last night’s quarter-final fixture against a Spain side with an abundance of quality in possession, the Lionesses struggled. The host nation’s star assets are their wide players with Lauren Hemp and Beth Mead lighting up this summer’s tournament with their dazzling wing-play, but last night they were shut out of the game, with space and time hard to come by in the wide areas that they usually look to exploit.
As the clock ticked over and we entered the final 15 minutes with England still trailing, and an opener unlikely to arrive through their usual easy on the eye combinations in the final third, Wiegman made a switch; her first tactical change of significance all tournament. Alex Greenwood replaced Rachel Daly to provide more balance and defensive solidity, resulting in England moving to a back-three in possession, allowing the dominant aerial presence of Chelsea’s Millie Bright to push forward and join the attack, partnering second-half substitute Alessia Russo as an auxiliary target woman and focal point for any attack.
England very quickly moved away from their neat, aesthetically pleasing passing and towards a more direct, far less glamorous approach, launching balls forward towards the physical presences of Bright and the equally towering Russo. Although Bright didn’t find herself involved in either goal, it was this exact approach that resulted in the equaliser with a lofted cross finding the battling head of Russo whose knockdown fell into the path of Manchester United teammate, Ella Toone, who smashed home from close range to level the scoring.
Whilst some may perhaps view this approach as desperation, this could be a very valid alternative solution to breaking the deadlock, fully utilising the strengths of the team, in this case the aerial ability of Bright.
Last night's game proved that if the Lionesses are to end this summer triumphantly, then against tougher teams they are going to have to show tactical and stylistic adaptability even if it does mean compromising on the glamour of their play to ensure an effective outcome, with Bright’s qualities for England potentially integral at both ends of the pitch.
